Razorlight @ Nottingham Rescue Rooms - 22nd October '03
				You really know where you are with a band like Razorlight. Frontman Johnny Borrell even looks like something straight out of CBGB’s, in his Superbowl T-Shirt and white boxer boots. He captures all the positive qualities of his heroes, the strongest similarity being with Tom Verlaine. Indeed many of the songs are reminiscent of early Television, particularly the set’s opener - and new single - Rip It Up. But there’s much more going on, and as they launch into Brave Lights, with Johnny’s vocals ranging from poetic whisper to all out screams, the Soft Boys suddenly spring to mind. Highlight of the set though is In The City, almost an updated version of Patti Smith’s Gloria. As much as they’re obviously inspired by the general sound and feel of 1970s New York, Razorlight are by no means a pastiche. They certainly possess that indefinable quality needed to catapult their act into the mainstream, which it would seem from tonight’s audience reaction is where they are heading. Grant Jones